Local sports briefs

Peng to join Lady Bulldog roster

STARKVILLE - Jessica Peng, a top international recruit, is set to join the Mississippi State women's golf team for the 2013-14 season, as announced by coach Ginger Brown-Lemm Tuesday.

"Jessica is a great addition to our team and will push our entire roster to get better," Brown-Lemm said. "She is an immediate impact type player that can help us get back to the NCAA Championships. Jessica is a very talented player that will strengthen our lineup immediately as well as add depth to our club."

The Shenzhen, China, native vaulted into national recognition after posting 70-71-71-212 in the 2011 AJGA Junior Challenge at the Oak Valley Golf Club in Beaumont, Calif. Her 4-under-par, eight birdie performance earned a runner-up finish.

Peng also notched a win (75-69-69) and a runner-up finish (77-76-67) on the CITIC Bank China Amateur Tour this season.

She has been ranked as high as the 39th best amateur worldwide according to the Polo Jr. Golf Rankings.

Peng will join Izel Pieters, another international recruit from South Africa, and Ji Eun Baik from Newnan, Ga., as newcomers on the Lady Bulldog roster this fall.

Bulldogs duo on postseason lists

STARKVILLE - Mississippi State's junior duo of center Dillon Day and tight end Malcolm Johnson were named to separate National College Football Awards Association watch lists, the organization announced Tuesday.

Day was included on the watch list for the 2013 Rimington Trophy, which is awarded to the most outstanding center in college football.

The West Monroe, La., native made the list for the second consecutive year after grading out a champion in 10 of 13 games last season. Day has started 21-consecutive games at center, anchoring a 2012 offensive line which gave up the second-fewest sacks in the Southeastern Conference.

For the second straight season, Johnson appeared on the watch list for the 2013 John Mackey Award, given annually to the most outstanding collegiate tight end. A preseason All-SEC tight end by Phil Steele, Johnson has totaled 21 catches for 377 yards and five touchdowns in 19 games in his career.

All-star contests scheduled next week

CLINTON - The Mississippi Associationj of Coaches will present two more all-star competitions next week.

The ninth annual All-Star Volleyball Match will be held at 6 p.m. Wednesday, July 17 at the Wood Coliseum on the Mississippi College campus. General admission tickets are $5 per person. The match features a three-game North-South format for rising senior players.

The North team will be coached by Allison Burchyett and Ruth Anne Gammell of Southaven, while the South squad will be guided by Keith Tucker of Resurrection.

On Thursday, the MAC All-Star Tennis Tournament will be played, beginning at 1 p.m. at Parham Bridges Tennis Center in Clinton. A North-South format will also be used for this tournament. Admission is free.

The North team will be coached by Bob Posey of Philadelphia and Rob Fyke of Starkville, with the South team under the direction of Kery Kenna of Forest and Rob Knight of Columbia.

Columbia will be represented by two players on the boys side, Jakkwon Allen and Tharen Woodson.

Jefferson to host basketball camp

National Basketball Association standout Al Jefferson will return to his alma mater at Prentiss High School for the fifth annual Al Jefferson Youth Basketball Camp July 22-24.

The three-day camp is free, but space is limited so early registration is recommended.

The first day of camp is youth and junior high boys and girls (grades 1-7), the second day is for high school girls (grades 8-12) and the third day is for high school boys (grades 8-12).

Registration is going on this week at Prentiss High from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., and registration forms can be found by logging on to AlJefferson25.com or facebook/aljefferson25. Each camper must have a completed and signed parental consent form.

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Local sports briefs

Jessica Peng, a top international recruit, is set to join the Mississippi State women's golf team for the 2013-14 season, as announced by coach Ginger Brown-Lemm Tuesday.